Phoenix Wright / Gyakuten Saiban, its settings and characters, are property of Capcom, and are being used here without permission.  This fic is rated R for now but that might change later.

 

 

Well Frogs

Chapter 8

 

 

More than one officer had a hand on his gun, but their caution did not seem to stem Tsudzuo's determination in the least.  He had knocked two of the policemen to the ground in order to reach Takita, and now stood protectively over him beside the patrol car.  Akane and her men took several steps back; there was no doubt they had noticed, just as Kyouya had, the Kitaki pistol shoved in the back of Tsudzuo's pants.

 

"Hey, hey."  Kyouya stepped forward, his hands up in a gesture of peace.  "There's no need to get antsy here," he told the yakuza pair calmly.  In seven years as a prosecutor he had met the red-haired Kitaki Underboss several times, and he knew a bit about how to handle him.  He even smirked a little.  "I see you got my text."

 

Takita, who was now standing under his own power, scowled at him.  "That was you on my phone?"

 

"Just a simple invitation," Kyouya replied smoothly.  He could feel Akane watching him very closely, but he didn't take his eyes off the men in front of him.  "Listen you two, if you'd just calm down, I'm sure we can talk this all over."

 

"I don't want to fight," Tsudzuo said plainly.  If there was anything nice Kyouya could say about the man, it was that he knew when to surrender gracefully.  "But no one touches him."

 

Kyouya shoved his hands in his pockets.  He didn't fancy himself much of a negotiator, but he seemed to be doing pretty well.  "That's very sweet of you.  But unfortunately, you just attacked a couple cops.  You know we have to take you in."

 

Tsudzuo's hard expression didn't change as he lifted his hands to the back of his head.  "So do it.  But keep your hands off the boy."

 

The surrounding police looked to Kyouya, hesitant, but when he nodded one finally came forward to remove the gun from Tsudzuo's belt.  All of them, including Takita, relaxed noticeably once he was disarmed.

 

"My parents didn't do anything," Takita insisted as Kyouya stepped closer.  He was gripping his chest, which finally reminded Kyouya of the circumstances they had first met under.  "Whatever it is, they--"

 

"They're not under arrest," Kyouya assured, glancing down to the patrol car window, where both of the Kitakis' anxious faces could be seen.  "Yet.  But someone's dead, and we have to do our job."  He glanced at Tsudzuo, and waited until the officers had gotten a pair of handcuffs on him before giving more instructions.  "Take the kid in, too."

 

Takita tensed, but he didn't seem to have it in him to fight back again--not that he had a need to.  As soon as one of the officers pulled Takita's arms behind his back--drawing a grimace of pain from him--Kyouya became aware of a sudden movement on his left.  He didn't see how Tsudzuo did it: he saw only a jerk of the man's shoulders, and suddenly an unbound fist rushed past him, striking the offending officer soundly in the jaw.

 

Kyouya lurched back, though he was more worried about some over-anxious cop firing off a shot than getting hit by Tsudzuo.  Thankfully, the encounter was just as short-lived as the first.  Once the rather bewildered looking Takita was back safely at Tsudzuo's side, the man fell still again.  His gaze was solely on Kyouya.  "Did you not hear me?"

 

"Prosecutor Garyuu!"  Kyouya had known it would only be a matter of time before Odoroki intervened somehow, so he wasn't surprised when the defense attorney jogged up to his side.  "Please, go easy on him," Odoroki said hopefully.  "Takita just had surgery not long ago, and--"

 

"I'm fine," Takita quickly snapped.  He gave himself a slight shake and stepped in front of Tsudzuo.  "I don't need special treatment."  He held his hands out in front of him, wrists together.  "If you're so determined to take me in, let's go already."

 

Tsudzuo shifted his weight, his face hard as he watched his master's son put in the cuffs, but Takita was quick to reassure him.  "Don't worry about me," he insisted.  "These pigs aren't worth your trouble."

 

Tsudzuo snorted quietly, but he followed Takita's example in lifting his hands.  The handcuffs originally on him were still hanging off one arm, and the dangling end had not been opened.  Even Kyouya couldn't help but wince in disgust as Tsudzuo grabbed his dislocated thumb and yanked it back into its socket.

 

"Very well," he grunted.

 

Kyouya rolled his eyes, but he watched attentively as Tsudzuo and Takita were finally cuffed and led to a different police car.  At long last, their charming little standoff was over.  He sighed with genuine relief and, ignoring Odoroki's attempts to get his attention, moved instead over to Akane.  "Hey."

 

"Damn yakuza," Akane muttered, rubbing her hand.  She had her face screwed up in its usual look of annoyance, but he could tell that she was still rattled.  "He…he had a damn hard face."

 

"Yeah, you got him pretty good, huh?"  Kyouya smirked and took her hand between his to give it a rub of his own.  Though she tried to pull it back at first, she quickly gave up.  She had probably been trying to keep him from realizing that her hands were shaking.  "Are you all right?" he asked, keeping his voice just light enough that she could laugh him off if she wanted.

 

"Yeah, I'm fine," Akane assured.  "Just, I'm not a shoot-out kind of detective, know what I mean?"  She rubbed her nose in embarrassment and was finally able to retrieve her hand from him.  "That guy gives me the creeps."

 

Kyouya's smirk lost a little of its humor.  "Yeah, you and me both."

 

*****

 

Odoroki crossed his arms, watching anxiously as the officers dispersed and went back to their business.  All the Kitakis were now in custody; the police had their pick of who they should charge with the murder.  It was not an entirely unfortunate occurrence, however; with Tsunekatsu and his family at the detention center, was little chance of Yuuri and his lackeys getting to them.

 

"Pretty exciting, wasn't that?" Naruhodou remarked as he moved to Odoroki's side.  His easy smirk looked distinctly out of place considering the scene that had just ended.  "Yakuza sure know how to keep this city on its toes."

 

"This isn't funny," Odoroki insisted in exasperation.  His heart was still beating a little faster than normal as his adrenaline gradually wore down.  "Mr. Akagami just dislocated his own thumb to break out of a pair of cuffs!"  He shuddered.  "I mean…it's kind of admirable, since he was looking out for Takita, but still…"

 

Naruhodou lifted an eyebrow.  "Oh?  Did you see him do it?"

 

Odoroki pointed to his bracelet.  "Better than I wanted to.  That's going to be in my head all night."  He shivered, but this time it was because of the cold.  He hadn't been expecting to be out all night when he dressed in his T-shirt that morning, and now goose bumps were crawling up and down his arms.  He gave them a fierce rub to try and warm up a bit.  "You said you've had to deal with yakuza before, didn't you…?"

 

"Yeah, you could say that," Naruhodou replied carelessly, as if it wasn't a big deal.  He continued to watch Odoroki thoughtfully.  "Cold?"

 

"Of course.  It is November, you know."  Odoroki continued to rub his arms as he watched Kyouya and Akane converse.  "If I could just get one of them to tell me…"

 

Odoroki was cut off when something was shoved abruptly over his head.  He squawked awkwardly as the thick wool bent his hair-spikes forward, causing them to droop in font of his face.  "Hey!"  He pushed Naruhodou's PaPa hat high enough so that it at least didn't cover his eyes.  "What…?"

 

"It'll keep your ears warm," Naruhodou told him brightly.  He gave his matted hair a brief, hard rustle with his fingers, and then pulled his sweatshirt hood up.  "You'll be surprised how much it helps."

 

Odoroki made a dubious face as he tucked his well-gelled hair antennae back under the cap.  But they were so stiff that it just made his head itch, and finally he gave up and let them dangle down over his face instead.  He probably looked ridiculous, but the hat was awfully warm, and just as Naruhodou had said it spread its effectiveness through him.  "Um…thanks."

 

Kyouya and Akane finished their conversation and glanced in Odoroki's direction.  Kyouya looked like he was about to approach but he paused when he noticed that Naruhodou had shown up as well.  He shoved his hands in his pockets and kept a step behind Akane as they headed over.

 

It just seems so dumb, Odoroki thought, trying not to glance between the two men.  "Are you okay, Detective Houdzuki?"

 

"Fine," she said with a shrug, drawing herself up taller as if for Naruhodou's benefit.  "But you saw what happened--they'll all be spending the night in detention."

 

"If not longer," Kyouya added grimly.

 

Now that he had their attention, Odoroki was quick to put out his questions.  "What did you mean before, about texting him?" he asked Kyouya.  "You messaged him?"

 

Kyouya tugged the cell phone he had taken from Tsunekatsu out of his pocket.  "I told him to come over.  I just wanted to see if he knew where to go, and how long it would take him."

 

"You shouldn't be playing with that," Akane quickly admonished him.  She snatched the phone out of his hand.  "It's evidence."

 

Naruhodou chuckled faintly at the pair.  "So is the kid a suspect now, too?  Taking on an awful lot, aren't you?"

 

Kyouya crossed his arms irritably.  "Didn't we clear you to leave?"

 

Odoroki and Akane exchanged quick glances, and the former spoke up to keep an argument from starting.  "Listen, the Kitakis are friends of mine," he told Akane and Kyouya hopefully.  "They're in trouble now, and I want to help.  Will you at least let me stay here for a while longer?  Maybe…"  His brow furrowed determinedly.  "Maybe let me see the crime scene?  I won't disrupt anything, I promise."

 

Kyouya shrugged, and started past him without so much as a second glance.  "Sure, go ahead.  The cops know you by now anyway.  Just…keep your nose out of trouble."

 

Akane frowned at the prosecutor's back, but she didn't follow him right away.  "I'm sorry," she said grimly.  "But it already doesn't look good."

 

"I know," Odoroki admitted, glancing after Kyouya.  He quickly pulled his attention back.  "But thank you, for letting me stay.  I'll be good, I promise."

 

"Good."  Akane nodded at him in a way that was probably meant to be stern, but she was already distracted.  "I'll talk to you both later."  She looked to Naruhodou, her expression a little strange, before starting off after the prosecutor at last.

 

Odoroki frowned as he watched them head back into the restaurant, and at last turned to Naruhodou.  "So what are you doing back here again?" he asked again.

 

"Don't worry, I got Makoto home fine," Naruhodou assured, scratching his stubble.  "And Minuki's studying."  He shrugged.  "I figured you'd still be here.  Hard to let a case go once you're there, isn't it?"

 

"It's not just that," Odoroki quickly replied, giving his arms another rub.  "Over the summer, when Takita was in trouble… Mr. Kitaki trusted me."  He stared up into Naruhodou's face, knowing that despite his easy appearance, he would understand.  He had been a lawyer, too--he had to understand.  "He trusted me with his son's life.  If I can help them now, I have to do it.  It's…it's more than an obligation, it's…."

 

Odoroki broke off, unable to put the rest of his feelings into words.  His arms tightened around his suddenly tense chest.  Naruhodou was watching him with dull, distant eyes, as if staring through his young protégé into some distant scene.  Gradually, they came back into focus.

 

"I know," Naruhodou said quietly.  "And I want to help."

 

Odoroki straightened up with a blink of surprise.  "Help…?"

 

"With your investigation."  Naruhodou's voice took on a strange inflection then that Odoroki had never heard in it before.  It sounded like…uncertainty.  "No teasing, no games, just one extra brain.  If Kitaki's arrested it'll be up to you to defend him, but I want to back you up, if…"  His eyes narrowed slightly.  "…you'll let me."

 

Odoroki stared back at him, startled by the unexpected declaration.  The idea that Naruhodou might have been afraid of his refusal was baffling to him.  His mouth worked several times in want of a meaningful response before it suddenly occurred to him.  "Does this have something to do with…what you asked me earlier?" he said softly.

 

Naruhodou's gaze darted to the side, the way someone might when considering a lie.  When it returned, his expression had hardened just slightly.  "Yes," he confessed.  "I guess I just want to know…if I can still be of some use, you know?"  His lip curled slightly.  "As a lawyer."

 

That hopeful gleam in Naruhodou's smile made his chest ache mysteriously.  When Odoroki tugged anxiously against his shirt collar, he could feel the gentle scrape of his lawyer badge's pin backing against his skin.  How could I ever deny him that?  He nodded so that his answer would be quick, but it took him a moment to get the emotion out of his throat enough to speak.

 

"Yes," Odoroki told him earnestly.  "Yes, please, I'd…I'd be honored."

 

Phoenix relaxed, and chuckled as he patted Odoroki soundly on the shoulder, dispelling the tense aura between them.  "Thanks.  I'll help you however I can," he promised brightly.  "Now come on, tell me what you know so far, and maybe we can sneak a peek at the crime scene."

 

Odoroki shook himself and nodded again.  "Okay!"  Feeling refreshed, he headed back towards the restaurant with Naruhodou at his side.  "The victim is Shouri Katagi…"

 

*****

 

"I want one phone call."

 

The guard on the other side of the bars glared at Takita.  "This isn't a movie, kid," he grumbled.  "You're not entitled to it."

 

"Yes I am," insisted Takita, pressed close to the door.  He had been put in a cell with his mother and Tsudzuo while his father had gone immediately into questioning.  Only a few minutes in captivity had been enough to set him on edge, and he clung to the bars as he tried to argue with the officer.  "I haven't done anything--I just want to make one call.  To…to my lawyer."

 

The guard shot him a doubtful look, and Takita continued before he could refuse again.  "He's that short kid with the stupid hair--you know, like this?"  He pressed his hand to his head with two fingers sticking up.  "Odoroki.  You know him, don't you?"

 

The guard continued to look unconvinced, but after a moment he lifted his radio.  "I'll have to clear it."

 

Takita rolled his eyes.  "Jerk…"  When he glanced back, his eyes fell quickly on Tsudzuo.  The Underboss hadn't said a word since leaving Tranquility Gardens, and was now staring straight ahead in gloomy silence.  "Hey."

 

Tsudzuo looked over at him.  "Yes?"

 

"You didn't have to go that far," Takita told him, gathering himself up.  He was able to do so without wincing now that his chest was no longer stinging.  "I was all right."

 

"It's my job," Tsudzuo replied simply.

 

"Yeah, I know…"  Takita tugged at the bars, just because he couldn't sit still.  He looked to his mother, but she was staring down at her hands in her lap, looking alternately troubled and furious, and he thought it best not to disturb her.  "Today started pretty good, too," he muttered.

 

The guard came closer as two more men approached, both of them with batons.  "All right, you can call your lawyer," he told Takita, clearly unhappy with his superior's decision.  "But you two better not move from those benches, or so help me I'll cuff you all to the walls."

 

Koume crossed her arms with a scowl.  "We're not movin'."

 

Takita let go of the bars as the cell was opened, and even allowed them to cuff him once he was outside.  He could feel Tsudzuo watching closely as he was led away.  If he knew how to break out of cuffs all this time, he should have told me, Takita thought with a snort. 

 

The last cell on the hall was filled with several familiar voices, all of which silenced as Takita passed by.  He couldn't help but glance inside.  Yuuri was leaning up against the bars very much like he had been only a moment ago, and they exchanged hard glares.

 

"Yer fuckin' dead," Yuuri growled.  He spat at the floor.

 

"Not if I get to you first," Takita snapped back, but the guards quickly gave him a shove, hurrying him away from the cell.

 

He was pushed into a stool in the next room, next to a wall mounted phone: the kind no one used anymore.  Stone aged cops.  Takita rolled his eyes again as he picked up the receiver.  "Can I get some privacy?"

 

The guards glared at him, but they did step back as asked, taking up positions at the door.  Takita stuck his tongue out at them in a childish display and finally went about dialing.  It's not too late, is it?

 

The phone rang on the other end a few times, and Takita's heart sank with the thought that he'd missed his chance.  Thankfully, the fourth ring was interrupted by a click and a soft voice.  "Hello?"

 

"Mako!"  Takita grinned, relaxing profoundly just from being able to hear her.  "Hey, it's me, Takita.  I'm sorry I didn't call earlier, but…well, something came up."

 

"Oh!"  Makoto's voice lowered a bit.  "Hello.  Is 'something'…something bad?"

 

"No, of course not."  It was a gentleman's duty not to worry a lady.  "Listen, I can't talk for long, but I wanted to hear you.  What are you up to?"

 

"I'm painting."  Makoto seemed to brighten once more, and the image of her smile that came to Takita's mind made him forget for a moment that he was sitting in detention.  "Mr. Odoroki took me to the park…and I made some sketches.  I was…a little scared, after we left…so I decided to start painting right away.  I feel much better now."

 

Scared…?  Takita paled.  That's right, they said they were going to Tranquility.  They must have been there when the murder happened…  His stomach twisted with anger towards the Katagi.  If they got her involved in any way….  He swallowed hard to keep that bitterness out of his voice.  "Good, that's good.  I can't wait to see it.  I'm going to come over there tomorrow night, okay?  I'll bring some food, too.  We'll have a good time."

 

"Okay," Makoto agreed softly.  "I'd like that."

 

"Good."  Takita closed his eyes briefly against a sting of sudden emotion.  "Good, I'll see you then.  Um, I gotta go, but good luck with the painting, okay?"

 

"Thank you.  Good night, Mr. Takita."

 

"No no."  Takita laughed.  "Just call me Takita.  Better yet…call me Takkun."

 

"Takkun?" Makoto repeated, confused.  She was quiet for a moment.  "…All right.  Good night…Takkun."

 

Takita grinned against the receiver.  "Good night, Mako."

 

He hung up, feeling all the relief he'd gained from hearing Makoto's sweet voice drain slowly out of him.  He stared down at his handcuffed wrists with pained, half-lidded eyes.  The cops said old man Katagi was murdered in that park.  She must have been right there.  Whoever did it could have easily….

 

A slow shudder worked through him and settled in his hands, just as it had at the range not even hours ago.  Thinking of Makoto now reminded him eerily of the weight of the pistol in his grip.  At one point, he had been able to fire with confidence; not at a person, maybe, but there had never been anything intimidating about paper targets before now.  In the end he and Tsudzuo hadn't spent much time at the range before receiving "his father's" text, but even in the time he did have he hadn't been able to hit anything.

 

But Tsudzuo still protected me.  He scowled at his trembling hands as he pushed up from the stool.  Because I can't even look after myself.

 

"Hey!  Take me back to my cell already."

 

*****

 

"If the murder weapon really was a Kitaki pistol," Odoroki concluded as he and Naruhodou moved through the restaurant, "the number of suspects is pretty limited.  Only Mr. Kitaki, Takita, and Mr. Akagami have access to them, from what I know.  And it's not like any of them could have been tricked into giving one over, like last time."

 

"So the case really hinges on where the weapon came from," Naruhodou surmised.  "If you can prove how it got from the Kitaki house to wherever it was found tonight, you can prove who used it."

 

Odoroki rubbed his forehead thoughtfully.  "Yeah, I guess you're right."

 

They must have looked like quite an interesting pair: Naruhodou in his hoodie and sweatpants, Odoroki in his T-shirt and jeans, both of them moving against the backdrop of ivory tablecloths and perfectly-attired wait staff.  At least the police didn’t give them any trouble.  For the moment, Odoroki was full of energy and feeling unstoppable.

 

"I guess we'll have to make sure that the Kitaki house wasn't broken into," Odoroki continued, though he was distracted somewhat by the sight of a familiar woman sitting at the bar.  "Makoto and I were over there all day, with the rest of the family home, so it's not likely…that…."

 

"Hm?"  Naruhodou tapped him on the shoulder.  "What is it?"

 

"That woman…"  The woman was in a lavender suit, tossing her head back as she downed some kind of alcohol.   It took him a moment to remember that he'd seen her earlier that night speaking with Kyouya.  "That must be Ms. Katagi.  The victim's wife."  She looks awfully young to be Yuuri Katagi's mother.

 

"You want to go talk to her?" Naruhodou suggested with a smirk.  "It doesn’t look like the police are keeping a close enough eye on her."

 

"Yeah…"  Odoroki licked his lips, glancing around quickly for any sign of Kyouya.  "It's worth a try."  With a deep breath he headed over.

 

Kanako Katagi didn't notice Odoroki as he came up on her left.  Her thin face was streaked with tears and smeared makeup beneath the curly bob of her dark hair.  In one hand she was clasping a well-used handkerchief, in the other a shot glass, which she clanged irritably against the bar to get the bartender's attention.

 

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but I think that's enough," the bartender said apologetically.  He didn't get too close, which was a good thing--when faced with his refusal, she lobbed the shot glass weakly in his direction.  It fell short and broke against the floor.

 

"What do you care!?" Kanako slurred.  "I paid you!"

 

Odoroki flinched back, and made sure the woman had nothing else that could be used as a weapon in reach before moving closer.  "Excuse me…Ms. Katagi…?"

 

Despite her anger only a moment ago, Kanako wilted when he said her name.  She sniffed pathetically into her handkerchief.  "Yes…?"

 

Odoroki hopped up onto the stool next to her.  It was too tall for him, and his feet dangled a little; thankfully, the woman was rather intoxicated and didn't seem to notice that, nor how underdressed he was.  "I'm so sorry to bother you…during your time of mourning."

 

Kanako shuddered, smearing her makeup further over her high cheekbones as she tried to wipe away more tears.  She shook her head and didn't answer.

 

Odoroki glanced to Naurhodou, who was hanging back.  With a thumbs up as encouragement, he continued.  "Um…my name is Housuke Odoroki.  I know it's a bad time, but I'd like to ask you some questions."  He was probably only going to get nonsense out of her considering her state, but there was also a chance of receiving honesty.

 

"Questions…?"  Kanako stared at him blearily.  "I've talked to…plenty'a cops tonight, Sir."

 

I'm a "sir"?  She must really be drunk.  "I know, I'm sorry.  But I heard that you talked to Mrs. Kitaki tonight--"

 

Kanako let out a screech, and swung her hand in Odoroki's direction as if trying to hit him with the shot glass she'd already launched at the bartender.  "That woman!  She's horrid!  Do you know what she said to me!?"  She grabbed Odoroki by the front of his shirt and gave him a shake, which was really more of a nudge, considering how weak she was from grief and alcohol.

 

Odoroki sputtered, trying to peel her hands off.  "N-No, I don't!  Wh…what did she say?"

 

"She said…"  Kanako's eyes filled with horror.  "…Have a pleasant evening."

 

She wailed again, letting Odoroki go so she could plant her face in her handkerchief, where she trembled with more sobs.  "I shouldn't have come here tonight!" she cried.  "I knew I shouldn't have!  I should have listened to him!"

 

They were gaining a lot of attention, and Odoroki knew it wouldn't be much longer before one of the cops realized he probably shouldn't have been talking to her.  "Who?" he asked quickly, leaning close despite the danger it was probably going to put him in.  "Who told you not to come here?"

 

"He told me," Kanako muttered, wiping her nose.  "He told me not to.  I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…."

 

With another sob Kanako folded her arms on the bar and flopped over them.  Odoroki fidgeted.  It didn't seem like he was going to get anything else out of her just yet, but he reached out anyway, touching her shoulder.  "I'm sorry," he offered awkwardly.  "For…your loss…"

 

Kanako continued to weep into her sleeves, and with pursed lips Odoroki finally slipped down from the stool.  When he glanced back to Naruhodou to see what he thought of their "witness", he was surprised to find him not alone: Akane was standing next to him.

 

"You get fifteen minutes at the scene," Akane said stiffly.  "That's it.  All right?"

 

Odoroki nodded determinedly.  "Yes, Ma'am!"

 

 

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